Records indicate that my Department was first advised in 1991 by the principal of the school referred to by the Deputy of this complaint and the investigation involving the school and the health board into it. This investigation concluded that the allegations were unfounded. Following the subsequent referral of the matter to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse by the complainant, my Department commissioned an independent assessment of the initial investigation. This assessment concluded that the initial investigation was seriously flawed and that its outcome was not satisfactory. In 1994, following fresh allegations of abuse of children at the school, a Garda investigation was carried out. At the conclusion of this investigation, the Director of Public Prosecutions directed that there was no evidence to support these allegations.
As part of an overall investigation into allegations of abuse at the school the Garda, in conjunction with the Eastern Health Board, my Department and the management of the school initiated a look-back investigation in 1996. This involved interviews with a sample of former residents and identified a number of allegations of abuse. Arising from this investigation, files were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding allegations of abuse at the industrial school. My Department provided every possible assistance to the Garda and made available all relevant records in this regard.
